U.S. House District 18 race in review

Called one of the costliest and nastiest contests in the country, the U.S. House District 18 race between Allen West and Patrick Murphy was one with a lot of national attention.

U.S. House District 18 Democratic candidate Patrick Murphy is seen smiling at an excited supporter after a television network declared him the winner at 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 7, after a very tight race with back-and-forth results all night at the Double Tree Palm Beach Gardens Hotel where his supporters gathered. U.S. Rep. Allen West conceded to Murphy after challenging the results for two weeks after Election Day. Take a look back, now, at some of our photographs related to the campaign.

Treasure Coast Newspapers

U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney (right) gets up from his seat to shake hands with U.S. Rep. Allen West, who spoke at a Martin County Chamber of Commerce luncheon in February at Willoughby Golf Club in Stuart. West decided to run for representative in what would become Florida District 18. Rooney, who represented Florida District 16, decided to run for office in the newly drawn District 17.

Treasure Coast Newspapers

Congressman Allen West began introducing himself to residents while visiting Stuart in February. West began the day at the Osceola Street Cafe before meeting with local officials. He later spoke at a Stuart/Martin County Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Willoughby Golf Club.

Congressional candidate Allen West ran a different kind of race in March, participating in the Race for Research half marathon run, which started and ended at the Torrey Pines Institute of Molecular Studies in Port St. Lucie.

Residents of District 18, like Mary Puleo of Port St. Lucie, listened to U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Plantation speak in April during his first town hall-style meeting on the Treasure Coast held at the Port St. Lucie Civic Center.

Allen West speaks in April during his first town hall-style meeting on the Treasure Coast held at the Port St. Lucie Civic Center.

Allen West watches C-SPAN with his Director of Communications, Angela Melvin, and Legislation Director, Josh Grodin, in his office in July in Washington, DC.

Treasure Coast Newspapers

Martin County Sheriff and District 18 Congressional candidate Robert Crowder speaks in July to attendents at a political forum in Hobe Sound. Crowder was challenging West to be the Republican candidate.

Treasure Coast Newspapers

Robert Crowder talks with attendees of Stuart's Fourth of July celebration in Flagler Park. Crowder was challenging Allen West to be the Republican candidate for U.S. House District 10.

Treasure Coast Newspapers

Allen West acknowledges his supporters as they applaud the first returns of the Florida Congressional District 18 Republican Primary at West's election party in August in Stuart. West defeated Robert Crowder to move on to the general election.

Treasure Coast Newspapers

Democrat Patrick Murphy, a candidate in the 18th Congressional District race, shakes hands with supporters in August after voting early at his home precinct in Jupiter.

Patrick Murphy visited the Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute's center in the Tradition community in Port St. Lucie in August.

Patrick Murphy and Allen West shake hands in October prior to a forum during the St. Lucie County League of Women Voters Forum at the St. Lucie County Commission Chambers in Fort Pierce.

Patrick Murphy listens as Allen West (right), answers a question in October from moderator Carol Wyatt during a forum with West and write-in Democratic candidate Marilyn Davis Holloman during the St. Lucie County League of Women Voters Forum at the St. Lucie County Commission Chambers in Fort Pierce.

Allen West greets supporters in October while participating in a rally for Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in Tradition in Port St. Lucie.

Congressional candidate Patrick Murphy speaks at the Martin County Democratic Club's "Fall Classic" party in October in Stuart.

Once hopeful for the GOP nomination for the District 18 seat, Martin County Sheriff Robert Crowder lent his support to Patrick Murphy, even appearing Nov. 4 at a fundraiser in Palm City for the Democrat.

Jimmy Buffett performed Nov. 4 at a Palm City home in November to raise funds for Democrat Patrick Murphy's congressional bid.

Allen West supporters watch Election Night returns Nov. 6 at his party at the Hutchinson Island Marriott Resort in Stuart. Despite several lead changes throughout the evening, West remains in seclusion during the event.

Treasure Coast Newspapers

Patrick Murphy socializes with his supporters during his election night party Nov. 6 at the Double Tree Palm Beach Gardens Hotel in November. By the end of the night and early the next morning, unofficial results show Murphy having more votes than West.

Treasure Coast Newspapers

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi gestures Nov. 13 during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, with newly elected Democratic House members. At left is Rep.-elect Patrick Murphy.

Sean Domnick (center), co-lead council for Patrick Murphy, talks with fellow co-lead council Gerald Richman as Judge Dan Vaughn deliberates over arguments from Allen West representatives to order a recount of all early and absentee voting ballots in St. Lucie County on Nov. 16. West's campaign called St. Lucie's results into question after both candidates lost a combined 799 votes in a recount of three early voting days in the county.

Allen WestÕs attorney Jeffrey Scott Shapiro (left) leans in for a closer look as Canvassing Board member Tod Mowery (center) shows Shapiro and Patrick MurphyÕs attorney Liz Howard (right) that the Accuview optical scanner is Òzeroed outÓ and functioning properly before a recount on all eight days of early voting ballots for the District 18 congressional race between Patrick Murphy and Allen West at the Supervisor of Elections Office in Fort Pierce on Nov. 17. The recount would show Murphy extending his lead over West.Despite the board missing a Nov. 18 noon deadline to report recount results to the state, the outcome remains the same in Patrick Murphy's apparent win over Allen West.

Allen West concedes the District 18 contest to Patrick Murphy. "While a contest of the election results might have changed the vote totals, we do not have evidence that the outcome would change," West said in a news release. "Given the extremely high evidentiary hurdles involved in a successful challenge, I will not ask my generous supporters to help fund a drawn-out, expensive legal effort with little chance of success. Therefore, we will not contest the certification or challenge the seating of Congressman-elect Murphy."